Jesus Is Lord

by Johnston, Brian, D. | Category: N/a | Oct 2005

'Jesus is Lord!' appears to have been a great confessional cry of the early Christians. This utterance, or very similar, is recorded three times in the New Testament.

'Confess … Jesus as Lord … [whom] God raised … from the dead' (Rom.10:9) - while Peter as yet hadn't fully grasped who Christ was, he still called Him 'lord' (Luke 5:8) as a customary title of respect (Luke 19:34; Mat.6:24; 21:30; 1 Pet.3:6). Christ assumed the title (e.g. in Mat.7:21,22) apparently suggesting its Old Testament association with the titles of God. But in terms of understanding its full significance, the title 'Lord', as applied to Jesus, pivots upon His resurrection. Peter was there in the upper room when Thomas joined with it the absolute title of deity: ''My Lord and my God'.' Peter then emphasized this teaching at Pentecost (Acts 2:36), and in his first letter used the term to stand for the Old Testament 'LORD' (C.p. 1 Pet.3:15 & Is.8:13).

'No-one can say, "Jesus is Lord", except by the Holy Spirit' (1 Cor.12:3) - our lives will only declare Christ's lordship through the Spirit's working. Christ has a pre-eminent role in creation and in the Church (His Body; Col.1). Yet it has been said that Christ plays a role in every Christian's life, sometimes even an important role, but seldom the chief or title role. The biblical challenge is to truly preach 'Christ Jesus as Lord' (2 Cor.4:5) and ourselves do everything 'as for the Lord' (Col.3:23,24).

Every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord (Phil. 2:11) - Christian leaders are not to lord it over their charge (see Luke 22:25) because the lordship of Jesus Christ expresses itself in humility. When we avail ourselves of the same mind, we will be other-centred (Phil.2:4); not status-seeking (v.6); and disinterested in position, power or privilege. In the only place where the Lord, in His earthly ministry, endorsed this title, He was on His knees: washing the disciples' feet (John 13:13).

Johnston, Brian, D. | Oct 2005
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